TomTom devices have been collecting tracking data. This data is sent back to the company when new map data is uploaded to the device (can this be true?).

TomTom has been using this data to calculate speed profiles (dynamic travel time maps), i.e., what is the typical speed on a piece of road depending (i) on the time of the day and (ii) the day of the week!

Essentially, TomTom has been collecting historic FCD from “its” vehicle fleet (and large numbers of those) to compute such typical speeds for the roads. Given the clout of the company, these data will really be of use to provide more accurate routing solutions.

Similar approaches are underway from NAVTEQ! Stay tuned!

Btw., has Google missed this trend or will the data collection be an Android feature?

The interface is pretty similar to what is being developed in TNT, i.e., providing a slider to produce future travel times probably based on historic information.

The predictions are based on past traffic at those times, similar to Windows Live Maps, but the option to choose your travel time and get predictions based on when you’re heading out put Google Maps’ traffic predictions one up on Windows Live Maps.

DASH Express GPS is an upcoming product that utilizes crowds moving as traffic sensors. The approach is very similar to what is done in TNT, with the difference that the comsumer/user of navigation devices acts also a FCD sensor, i.e., each unit is basically a two-way pager, it records the traffic you experience and shares it with others!

The stats to have such a system work are the same as in our case, >2000 vehicles for major (pop >1.5M) is a must in terms of penetration to have decent traffic assessment!

TomTom announced an online traffic information channel for its navigator devices. The One XL HD Traffic service provides continuously updated traffic information based on mobile phone tracking data and third party providers (could this be GPS tracking data based?).

Tele Atlas has deployed a system that uses historic traffic data (FCD) collected from commercial vehicle fleets over a period of two years to provide improved routing services.

The project is close to what TRACK&TRADE will be achieving in that historic FCD is analyzed to derive dynamic travel times. TRACK&TRADE additionally will provide a current data feedback channel, i.e., not relying solely on historic data but also on current FCD.

The Tele Atlas system is based on technology developed by Inrix, a startup company based in Kirkland, WA.